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The venerable said no more, but proceeded to enter into a state of deep concentration. Though his words had been few, his presence
radiated peace and happiness, which most of the sisters found greatly encouraging. Some of the younger sisters, however, were
disappointed by how short his talk was. They urged Bhikkhuni Gotami to ask if he might say something more. Bhikkhuni Gotami bowed to
Venerable Bhanda and expressed the wish of the younger sisters. But Venerable Bhanda simply repeated the same poem again and then
stepped down from the pedestal.
Some days later, the Buddha was told about Venerable Bhanda’s Dharma talk. It was suggested to the Buddha that, in the future,
monks more talented at speaking should give the Dharma talks. But the Buddha replied that a person’s presence was more important than
his words.
One morning after returning from his begging, the Buddha was unable to find Ananda. Venerable Rahula and others said they had not
seen him. Then one bhikkhu reported that he had seen Ananda go begging in a nearby village of untouchables. The Buddha asked that
bhikkhu to go to the village and look for Ananda. The bhikkhu found Ananda and returned with him to the monastery. He also brought
back two women, a mother and her daughter, whose name was Prakriti.
The Buddha listened to Ananda explain how he had been delayed that day. One day several weeks before, on his way back to the
monastery after begging, Ananda suddenly felt thirsty. He stopped by the well in the untouchable village for a drink. There he found Prakriti
lifting a bucket of water from the well. She was a beautiful young woman. Ananda asked her for a drink of water but she refused. She told
him she was an untouchable and did not dare pollute a monk by offering him water.
Ananda told her, “I do not need high rank or caste. I only need a drink of water. I would be happy to receive it from you. Please don’t
be afraid of polluting me.”
Prakriti offered him water at once. She felt drawn to this kind and handsome monk who spoke so gently. She was smitten with love. At
night she could not sleep. All her thoughts were of Ananda. She waited by the well every day after that in hopes of catching a glimpse of
him. She persuaded her mother to invite him to share a meal in their home. He accepted twice, but sensing that the young woman had fallen
in love with him, he refused additional invitations.
Prakriti was lovesick. She grew thin and pale. Finally she confessed her feelings to her mother. She said she wanted Ananda to renounce
his vows and marry her. Her shocked mother shouted at her and told her it was a foolish and impossible love. But Prakriti said she would
sooner die than give up Ananda. Fearing for her daughter’s health, Prakriti’s mother prepared an aphrodisiac in hopes she might get
Ananda to respond to her daughter’s passion. She was from the Matanga clan and knew a number of shamanistic potions.
Prakriti offered Ananda a drink of water from the well.